Wheel cover



Jan. 20, 1959 G. A. LYON 2,859,928

' WHEEL COVER Filed Dec. 50, 1952 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IVY/E17 Farr Geo ge .fl/beri [yon G. A. LYON WHEEL COVER Jan. 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 30, 1952 11 7 vEz-zfsr gkozfye .fiiberiflyozz lav I Hffgz Stats WHEEL eovER 7 George Albert Lyon, Detroit, Mich. Application December 30, 1952, Serial N0.-328,667

in Claims. (Cl. son-37 radially projecting handle or horn structures at the sides of the central crown portionofthe cover. Where a separatecentral cap is provided it is easy enough to draw the horns directly in the margins of the cap. However, where the central crown portion is only a small diameter crown protrusion of a larger cap or cover, material may not be'available about the sides of the central crown protrusion or embossment to enable the provision of drawn or pressed-out horn members.

By the present invention such horn members are provided efiectively as separate, attached structures.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a cover crown with novel radially projecting horn members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover having a crown to which are secured in self-retaining relation radially projecting horn members.

A further object of the invention is meansfor connecting horn members to the sides of cover crown protrusions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of making wheel covers including central crown protrusions to which radially projecting horn members are attached.

, Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following Figure 4 is a diametrical sectional view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating various steps in the assembly of the cover components;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on the line V-V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary radial. sectional view through a modified cover construction and demonstrating steps in the assembly thereof;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified cover construction;

Figure 8 is a diametrical radial sectional view taken substantially on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7;

Figure'9 is a plan view of a blank prior to forming of the same into one of the horn Figures 7 and 8; and

to provide novel structures for the cover of atent with the crown side wall.

Figure It) is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on the line XX of Figure 8.

A wheel cover 15- (Figures 1 and 2) may comprise a ,hub cap or a full disk type of wheel cover and may be a knock-off cap, as preferred, since the present invention is applicable to any type of cover wherein radially projecting head lugs, wings,-'ears or horns 17 are usable. In a rotary knock-01f type of cap or cover the horns 17 serve the purpose of affording convenient hand holds or grips for angular turning leverage on the cap; On a snap-om, pry-off type of cap or cover the horns 17 may serve only as ornamental, simulative appendages where the cap or cover is intended to afford the appearance of a knock-off cap or cap and cover combination.

As shown, the cover 15 comprises a sheet metal body 18 in the form of a stamping providing a sloping wall 19 provided with a central outward crown projection or protrusion 20 which in the present instance has a circular generally axially but somewhat flaring side wall 21 joining the sloping wall 19 angularly. The cover body 18 may be made from stainless steel or brass or other suitable sheet and it may be plated or polished, burnished, or otherwise ornamentally finished.

As illustrated, two of the horns 17 are provided at diametrically opposite sides of the crown protrusion 20, but it will be obvious that three or more of the horns 17 may be provided, as preferred. The horns 17 project radially from the side wall 21 into overlying relation to the adjacent portion of the outer body wall 19.

The horns 17 are preferably made from sheet metal stamped or otherwiseshaped to form and the material may be the same as that from which the cover body 18 is made or other material may be utilized, as preferred. By preference, each of the horns 17 is formed as a hollow shell having coextensive side walls 22 merging at a tip 23 to provide an outer end closure for the shell, while the opposite or inner end of the shell is open. The horn shell 17 is wider at its inner or open end and tapers towardthe tip 23. The construction and arrangement is such that in assembly with the cover, the shell opens downwardly or toward the adjacent portion of the body wall 19 and with the edges of the side walls 22 closely adjacent to the coversurface.

Assembly ofthe horn shells 17 with the crown side wall 21 of the cover is effected by interconnecting the inner or open end portion of the respective horn shells To this end the crown side wall is provided with respective apertures 24 (Figures 4 and 5 dimensioned to receive the inner end portions of the horn shells in snug relation. The outline of the openings 24 is thus complementary to the contour of the inner end portion of the respective horn shells 17 so that the horn shells can be assembled by thrusting them through the respective openings 24 from the inside of the crown 20.

Interlocking interengagement of the horn shells 17 with the crown side wall 21 is efiected by the provision on the inner end portions .of the side walls 22 of depending locating or stop lugs 25, while the upper inner end portion of the horn shell is provided with an interlock lug extension 27. The outer edges of the depending lug extensions 25 engage against the lower margin defining the opening the crown side wall 21.

In order to retain the horn shells 17 againstinward displacement, the crown 20 is inset adjacent its margin to provide an interlock shoulder 28 which opposes the asaaszs Patented Jan. 20, 1959 r inner side of the respective retaining lug extension 27. The interlock shoulder 28 may be provided as a knockin lug or individual depression adjacent to the respective symmetrical annular inwardly projecting rib defining an outwardly opening *groove-at-the margin of the peak or topof the crowriZtl. 'As-best seen in Figure 4, thecrown top-may originally be formed flat and then rolled or pressed in at its -margin to provide the insetor depressed shoulder 28' after'the horns 17 have been assembled with'the-crown and as a final step in completing the as sembl ed," interlockedrelationship. To facilitate such assembly, the interlock extensions 27 are preferably formed on a radius as shown and in the final assembly fit 'up in a -cornpl'ementary groove 29 in the margin of the crown top'formedbetween-theinterlock rib 2d and the upper margin 'ofthe side wall 21. In orderto brace the inner end portions of the: side walls'22of'the horn shells-againstinward collapsing and also to substantially close on" the apertures -24 against entrance of" dirt'therethrough into the crown '29, after assembly of the horns 17 with the cover, respective closure members 30 areprovided. Herein the closure members 30 comprise integral tongues or flanges struck out in the formation of the apertures 24 and in the preassembly condition extending as integral extensions from the lower margins defining the respective apertures 24. After the respective horn shells 17 have'been assembledwith the 'crown 20, the bracing and closure flange tongues 30 are "bent up into interengaging and closing relatio'n'to the inside of the-inner portion of the associated'horn shell from the inwardly extending position of Figure 4- into the final assembledposition shown in Figure 2. It will be observed that the flanges 3d are cut to an outline that is complementary to the internal shape of the inner end portions of the horn shells.

suitable sheet material stamped or drawn to shape,- having a sloping major wallS and a central crown protrusion it? provided with a side wall 41 which merges angularly with the cover wall 39.

. Each of the horn members 37 comprises a sheet metal shell having coextensive side walls 42 merging to an outer end tip 4-3 and'fiaring toward an inner open end.

' The side wall 41 is formed with appropriate apertures 44- of complementary outline to the inner end portion of the horn shell 37 so that the horn shells can be assembled'through the respective openings 44 from the inside of the crown'dll into snug engagement at their inner end portions with the edge defining the respective opening 44.

Retention of the respective horns 37 in their respective aperturesdlis accomplished by having the inner end portions of the side walls 42 provided with depend I ing' retainingo-r stop lug extensions 45 that are engageable asshoulders against the inner side of the margin defining the lower portion of the associated aperture 44. An upper innerend interlock lug extension 417 on the shell'37 provides an outwardly facing shoulder that engages retainingly withrthe upper margin defining the aperture 44. The crown 40 is provided with a shoulder '48 spaced radially inwardly from'the upper margin of the side wall' 41 and engageahle retainingly and-under resilient tension by the extremitytip-o-fthe' retaining extension 47.

Inassemblinglthe.horn37 with the capor cover, the horn is extended through the aperture 44 until the retaining and stop lugs 45 engage the lower margin of the side wall 41 and the end of the retaining lug extension 47 engages under the crown 4%) adjacent to the shoulder 48, substantially as shown in dash outline in Figure 6.

Then the born 37 is forced to fulcrum clockwise as seen in Figure 6 on the lower edge of the opening 44- to snap the retaining lug 47 forwardly and into retaining tensioned engagement with the shoulder 48. The horn 37 is thus effectively retained against inward displacement as Well as outward longitudinal displacement.

As the final assembly step, an integral lower marginal tongue extension 49 at the aperture 4 3 is bent up into bracing'relation to the side walls 4-2 of the horn 37 and into closing relationrto the opening 44.

In the modification of Figures 7 and 8, a cap or cover 50 is provided having a plurality of horn shells 51. The cap or cover 549 includes a sheet metal body stamped or pressed to form and including a sloping major wall "portion 52and a central outwardly projecting crown protrusion'53having a side wall '54-. The side wall has respective'apertures 55 therein through which the horns 51 project in assembly.

'Each' of the horns 51 is preferably formed up from a sheet metal blank B as seen in Figure 9 which is creased and bent along lines L as indicated in Figure 9 toprovide co-extensive'somewhatt'laterally and rearwardly fiaring side walls 57 merging at an outer blunt reduced width tip 58 and defining an inward opening.

At their 'inner end portions, the side walls 57 are provided with depending retaining lug extensions 59 as well as upwardly projecting respective similar lug extensions (it).

In assembly the downward lug extensions 59 provide respective shoulders engaging against the lower margin defining'the associated crown side wallopening 55 while the upper retaining extensions dtl'engage against the upper margin defining the aperture 55, after the respective shell horn 51 has been assembled by projecting the groove is feasiblewhere the material from which the same through the opening 55 into the assembled position. For retaining the shell horn 51 against inward displacement, the crown 53 is provided with shoulder means 61 which in the present instance is shown'as comprising an annular symmetrical shoulder pressed into the marginal portion of the crown top. This shoulder '61 may be preformed and the upper retaining lugs 6t? snapped into the groove 62 provided in the crown margin, or the shoulder 61 may be spun or pressed into the crown after assembly of the horns with the crown. However, by reason of the individual character of'the retaining lugs so and the converging relation thereof as best seen in Figure 1.0, snapping of the'same into a preformed retaining horns 51 is made is of adequate flexible resiliency. As best seen in Figure 8, the groove as may be substantially complementary to the contour of the retaining lug extensions 69, shown in this instance as formed on a radius. The manner in which the horns 51 may be assembled by snapping the retaining ears or lugs 60 into the groove 62 in the final assembly is indicated in dash outline in Figure 8.

As the final step in completing assembly of the horns 51 with the crown 53,- a side wall bracing and closure tongue flange 63 is bent up from the dash position as shown in Figure 8 to the full line position shown in'Figures 8 and 10. Thereby the side walls 57 are braced against inward collapsing and the opening at the inner end of the horn 51 is closed again'stentry of dirt into the crown;

I Although herein the horn members 17, 37 or 51, as the case may be, have been disclosed especially in conjunction with the crown protuberance of a respective cover oracap member, it will be understood that at least in certain aspects the construction disclosed and the method ofassembly can be employed to connect projecting shell-like members from other parts of a sheet metal member such as a Wheel cover or the like.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be eifected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a cover member having a crown including a generally axially extending side wall, said side wall having an opening therethrough, a horn shell member extending from the inside of said side wall outwardly through said opening and having an inner end portion within the opening generally complementary to and engaging opposing edges defining the opening snugly, said horn member having lugs on its inner end portion retainingly engaging said crown side wall laterally beyond said opening.

2. In a cover member having a crown including a generally axially extending side wall, said side wall having an opening therethrough, a horn shell member extending from the inside of saidcrown outwardly from said side wall through said opening and having an inner end portion within the openings generally comp1emcn-.

tary to and engaging opposing edges defining the opening snugly, said horn member having lugs on its inner end portion retainingly engaging said crown side wall laterally beyond said opening, said crown having an interlocking shoulder adjacent said opening retainingly opposing inward displacement of one of the retaining lugs located on the upper portion of said horn.

3. In a cover having a crown portion with a top wall and a side wall, said side wall having an opening therethrough, a horn member extending from the inside of said crown outwardly from said side wall through said opening and having retaining portions thereon engaging the margin defining the opening at the inside of the crown and including one portion projecting toward the underside of said top wall, said top wall having an inset portion spaced inwardly from the upper margin of said side wall and defining a groove into which said upwardly projecting portion of the horn extends retainingly.

4. In a cover assembly, a cover body having a generally axially extending flange merging with a generally radially extending portion, said flange having an opening therethrough, a horn member fitting in said opening, said horn member having a retaining lug projecting from the portion thereof adjacent to said radially extending portion of the cover body, said radially extending portion of the cover body having a shoulder thereon spaced from an adjacent portion of the flange and said lug being engaged retainingly between said shoulder and said flange portion.

5. In a cover constructioma cover body having a generally axially extending portion and a generally radially extending portion, said axially extending portion having an opening therein, a member fitting in said opening and having a lug portion adjacent to said radially extending portion, said radially extending portion having a part thereof in complementary internested retaining engagement with said lug.

6. As an article of manufacture, a member having an aperture therein, and a sheet metal horn shell having an open end portion fitting in said aperture, said member having a tongue thereon fitting in said open end portion and substantially closing said aperture.

7. In a cover structure, a cover body having an axially outer side and an axially inner side and provided with a generally axially extending portion, a horn shell member of generally inverted U-shape cross-section with substantially coextensive side walls merging into a tip at an outer end of the horn member and defining an' open opposite end, said axially extending portion having therein an aperture through which the horn member extends, said aperture being of generally inverted U-shape complementary outline to the open end portion of said horn member and disposed with the top of the U directed axially outwardly and the bottom of the U directed axially inwardly and said horn member having the open end portion thereof in engagement with the edge defining said aperture, said horn member side walls having at said opposite end of the member generally axially inwardly extending retaining lugs and the horn member at said opposite end having a generally axially outwardly projecting lug structure, said lugs and said lug structure engaging said axially extending portion about the margin defining said aperture, and a flange on the axially inner side of said aperture extending as a projection from said axially extending portion between said horn member side walls and serving as a brace against collapse of said side walls.

8. In a cover assembly, a cover body having a central crown with a generally axially extending side wall, said crown having a depressed portion adjacent to said side wall defining a groove opening inwardly adjacent junc ture of the side wall with the crown, said side wall having an aperture adjacent to said juncture, a horn member projecting through said aperture from the inside of the side wall, and an interlock lug on the horn member snapped into said groove.

9. As an article of manufacture, a member having an aperture therein, and a sheet metal horn shell having an open end portion fitting in said aperture, said member having a tongue thereon fitting in said open end portion and substantially closing said aperture, said horn shell having on said open end portion laterally projecting retaining flange structure interengageable with the member for holding the horn shell against displacement.

10. In a cover member having a crown including a generally axially extending side wall, said side wall having an opening therethrough, a horn shell member extending from the inside of said side wall outwardly through said opening and having an inner end portion within the opening generally complementary to and engaging opposing edges defining the opening snugly, said horn shell members having flange structure on its inner end portion retainingly engaging said crown side wall laterally beyond said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,753,631 Walters Apr. 8, 1930 1,842,455 Lord Jan. 26, 1932 2,163,005 Lyon June 20, 1939 2,248,707 Horn July 8, 1941 2,276,405 Lyon Mar. 17, 1942 2,368,235 Lyon Ian. 30, 1945 2,560,290 Helberg July 10, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 769,819 France .t- June 18, 1934 500,939 Great Britain Feb. 17, 1939 

